Alton Middle School Chess Club Celebrates Game's Culture with Prodigy's Visit
Alton Middle School students met 15-year-old chess prodigy Devanshi Chowdada during a Chess Workshop. Learn how the visit connected young players with strategies and a broader appreciation for the game.
ALTON - Alton Middle School students had the chance to meet a local chess prodigy and learn more about the game.
Ilyas Kantar, the middle school teacher who oversees the Chess Club, organized a Chess Workshop where students could learn more about the game’s culture and history. The Chess Workshop fostered a deeper appreciation for chess and highlighted the students’ devotion to learning and mastering the sport, which will impact them for years.
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“Obviously, chess is way more than just a game,” Kantar said. “It just helps raise brighter kids. All of those engineers, doctors, lawyers — they know how to play chess. That’s not a coincidence.”
Kantar invited Devanshi Chowdada, a 15-year-old chess prodigy, to present chess strategies to the middle school students. Chowdada is ranked among the top 30 players in the U.S. in her age range.
She has also published a book about chess. Kantar bought every Chess Club student a copy of Chowdada’s book, which they could then have her sign.
He noted that Chowdada is “a brilliant, gifted kid” who made “a different impact” on the students, as they were eager to learn from someone closer to their own age. Kantar expressed his appreciation for Chowdada’s time, and he hopes the students found her inspiring.
Alton Middle School Principal Dr. Brian Saenz bought pizzas for the Chess Workshop attendees, and the students played chess and shared strategies as they ate. Kantar was pleased to welcome nearly 30 students to the workshop. He pointed out that the Chess Club is growing as it marks its fourth year at the middle school.
The Alton Middle School Chess Club will compete in a tournament against 13 other Illinois schools in January. The Alton High School Chess Club, which Kantar also helps with, will compete against St. Louis schools in the coming months.
Kantar hopes more middle school students will go on to join the high school’s Chess Club, so the program can expand. He believes knowing how to play chess is a valuable skill that helps students grow as people. His goal is to help his middle school students continue to master the sport and enjoy the experience.
“Kids that are into it, after a while, they understand the value of it,” he added. “Hopefully this is a skill that they will take on for the rest of their lives.”
This featured article is sponsored by Alton Community Unit School District #11. To get your business or organization featured on www.RiverBender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
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